The Big Thaw
Thursday morning I went to renew my vehicle registration and get a new license as soon as the place opened up. As is invariably the case, even though I arrived ten minutes early there were three people who had just showed up ahead of me, and they started walking up to the front door as soon as I parked my car. I can never time these things correctly. I was a little flummoxed by some of the changes. I forgot about the whole “federally approved license” that one needs to board flights within the US now, and I had neglected to bring the required birth certificate. But I have a current passport, so I just opted for the regular driver’s license. Another change is that in Ohio licenses used to be always good for four years, but now there is an option to make it good for one to five years. I don’t know why someone would only get a license for a single year, because having to come back in and waste time at the BMV is something sane people avoid if they can. I opted for three years, because paying $240 for getting a new license, even if it was good for two more years was more than I was committed to paying at that moment, and after wearing my mask I was afraid that my moustache and beard, which I had carefully styled, would be all messed up for the photo and I would be stuck with a horrible photo for that much longer.
The bureaucrat handling this transaction informed me that I almost failed the vision test, which was alarming but shouldn’t have been, given the trouble I have been having with my eyes lately. I told her: “I just ordered a new pair of glasses last week!” She may have rolled her eyes at me. On the other hand, why do we use an eye test that is based off of near vision when driving is an activity that requires the exact opposite? Am I supposed to put on my reading glasses when I get in the car?
Got a helping of the usual irony that infests my life when, literally one hour later, I got a text saying my new glasses where in and ready for pickup. Whatever. So my new “occupational lenses” are both better and worse than I expected, based off what I was told. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my far vision with them is not as bad as I anticipated. I can look out my window across the street and still see a reasonable amount of detail. And it is very nice to be able to effortlessly read once more. On the other hand, the middle range peters out pretty quickly…I discovered that it was a struggle to read subtitles on a Spaghetti Western playing 12 feet away from where I was sitting in the living room, so I still had to switch back to my old pair. This will be an iterative process before I optimize which glasses get worn for what activities…
…For example I went on an impromptu walk yesterday afternoon because the sun was out, and found my new glasses wouldn’t really let me get a good look at birds in nearby trees. Wasn’t thinking, there. But sound was everywhere - the temps got into the mid-40’s, and with the sun all the snow began melting quickly and the trickling and rushing of water came from all directions. The creek near my house was a positive torrent, and I even saw white water - like actual rapids, whereas one week ago the stream was almost frozen solid. Things change fast around here.
Since I was feeling ansty I started pruning the rosebushes and then got on an extension ladder to take measurements of the opening of the barn loft door, the top half of which is missing in the back and just has plastic sheeting stapled over it. I am going to make a new door that incorporates a Plexiglas sheet so some light will be let into the loft, because it’s pretty dark up there. I have other plans for the back of the barn, too, but one thing at a time…
The bureaucrat handling this transaction informed me that I almost failed the vision test, which was alarming but shouldn’t have been, given the trouble I have been having with my eyes lately. I told her: “I just ordered a new pair of glasses last week!” She may have rolled her eyes at me. On the other hand, why do we use an eye test that is based off of near vision when driving is an activity that requires the exact opposite? Am I supposed to put on my reading glasses when I get in the car?
Got a helping of the usual irony that infests my life when, literally one hour later, I got a text saying my new glasses where in and ready for pickup. Whatever. So my new “occupational lenses” are both better and worse than I expected, based off what I was told. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my far vision with them is not as bad as I anticipated. I can look out my window across the street and still see a reasonable amount of detail. And it is very nice to be able to effortlessly read once more. On the other hand, the middle range peters out pretty quickly…I discovered that it was a struggle to read subtitles on a Spaghetti Western playing 12 feet away from where I was sitting in the living room, so I still had to switch back to my old pair. This will be an iterative process before I optimize which glasses get worn for what activities…
…For example I went on an impromptu walk yesterday afternoon because the sun was out, and found my new glasses wouldn’t really let me get a good look at birds in nearby trees. Wasn’t thinking, there. But sound was everywhere - the temps got into the mid-40’s, and with the sun all the snow began melting quickly and the trickling and rushing of water came from all directions. The creek near my house was a positive torrent, and I even saw white water - like actual rapids, whereas one week ago the stream was almost frozen solid. Things change fast around here.
Since I was feeling ansty I started pruning the rosebushes and then got on an extension ladder to take measurements of the opening of the barn loft door, the top half of which is missing in the back and just has plastic sheeting stapled over it. I am going to make a new door that incorporates a Plexiglas sheet so some light will be let into the loft, because it’s pretty dark up there. I have other plans for the back of the barn, too, but one thing at a time…